The son of Marine Sgt. Joshua Newville couldn’t stop the tears from flowing when Senior Airman Emily Leehan, the woman marrying his father, took some time to read a special set of vows. Leehan had written the vows to speak directly to her husband-to-be’s son, creating a truly heartwarming moment.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Gage, the Marine’s four-year-old son, was singled out by Leehan during the wedding ceremony held at Quincy Cellars in Ripley, New York.

Leehan read a set of vows written especially for Gage, leading the boy to break out in tears of joy. During the reading, Leehan said, “I want you to be safe and to try your hardest and to be a good person.”

Gage’s stepmom continued her reading of the vows, saying, “I hope you learn that you are a very special boy.”

She went on to say, “You are so extremely smart, handsome and kind to others. You have helped make me into the woman that I am today.”

During the vows to Gage, Leehan also said, “And I may not have given you the gift of life, but life surely gave me the gift of you.”

At the closing, Leehan leaned down to give Gage a kiss, and the boy reached out his arms for a hug.

Both Newville and Leehan are currently active duty and weren’t able to go on a honeymoon immediately after the ceremony. They planned to return to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, located in Trenton, New Jersey, just a few days after the ceremony.